THIS is Why the Lakers Officially WAIVED Jordan Goodwin + Shake! NEW Details on Marcus Smart Signing

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially waived guards Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton to create the necessary salary cap space for signing veteran defensive specialist Marcus Smart, marking a strategic roster restructuring as the franchise prepares for the 2025-26 season.

Salary Cap Constraints Force Difficult Decisions

The Lakers’ decision to part ways with both players stems from First Apron restrictions that limit the team’s payroll to approximately $195.9 million for the upcoming season. Prior to waiving Milton, the Lakers’ payroll sat at roughly $195 million, leaving insufficient room to accommodate Smart’s contract without exceeding the crucial threshold.

The moves were executed in sequence, with Milton’s departure freeing up initial space before the Lakers made the difficult decision to waive Goodwin to fully accommodate Smart’s bi-annual exception contract worth $5.1 million for this season and approximately $5.5 million for the following year.

Jordan Goodwin’s Valuable Contributions

The decision to waive Goodwin represents a significant sacrifice for the Lakers, given his substantial contributions during the 2024-25 season. The 6’3″ or 6’4″ combo guard emerged as a key rotation player under head coach JJ Redick, who consistently praised his performance and quickly elevated him from a two-way contract to a standard deal.

Goodwin’s statistical impact was particularly impressive in several key areas:

• Rebounding Excellence: Averaged 4 rebounds per game despite his guard position, translating to an exceptional 8 rebounds per 36 minutes
• Defensive Prowess: Recorded approximately 2 steals per 36 minutes with a positive defensive BPM rating
• Playoff Contributions: Logged roughly 40 minutes during the team’s playoff run
• Post-Trade Deadline Impact: Averaged 5.5 points and 4 rebounds in 19 minutes per game after the team acquired Luka Dončić

The versatile guard demonstrated his defensive versatility by effectively guarding point guards, shooting guards, and occasionally small forwards, establishing himself as one of the team’s few legitimate 3-and-D players alongside Dorian Finney-Smith.

Complete Roster Transformation

With Smart’s addition, the Lakers have now completed their 15-man roster for the upcoming season. The signing represents the culmination of an impressive offseason that saw general manager Rob Pelinka add significant talent without surrendering trade assets.

The Lakers’ summer acquisitions include:

• DeAndre Ayton (center)
• Jaxson Hayes (returning center)
• Jake LaRavia (forward)
• Marcus Smart (guard)

Strategic Assessment and Future Implications

While losing Goodwin represents a meaningful reduction in backcourt depth, the acquisition of Smart—a former Defensive Player of the Year—provides the Lakers with a more established and proven veteran presence. Smart’s championship experience and defensive leadership are expected to address critical needs as the team builds around its veteran core.

The Lakers retain significant trade flexibility moving forward, with assets including Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent, Max Christie, their 2031 first-round pick, and multiple future draft swaps still available for potential deals.

Goodwin’s departure likely won’t mark the end of his NBA career, as his strong performance with the Lakers—particularly his shooting efficiency and defensive impact—should generate immediate interest from other franchises seeking backcourt depth and two-way production.

The moves underscore the Lakers’ commitment to maximizing their championship window while navigating the complexities of modern NBA salary cap management, with Smart’s addition representing both an immediate upgrade and a strategic long-term investment in proven playoff experience.